Narva's Revamped Border Checkpoint and the Ambitious Military Base Plan
Border queues develop in Estonia following military drills with Russia; more details here.
Estonia has unveiled its reopened international checkpoint in Narva, a move sparking unexpected lines just a day after resuming operations following military drills. ERR has the scoop.
Previously, Estonian authorities had flagged largescale border exercises against migrants, set for April 28 to May 2 this year. The Narva checkpoint was targeted for these drills, and authorities recommended using Koidula and Luhamaa border checkpoints for crossings. The Narva checkpoint was shut on April 30 and reopened on May 3.
"Since the exercises, the Narva-1 checkpoint temporarily halted operations for three days. On Saturday, it returned to regular service, only to find long queues of people eager to cross the Estonian-Russian border once again," the newspaper stated.
News emerged of military exercises taking place at the Narva railway station. The armed forces rehearsed the coordination of various law enforcement agencies in crisis scenarios, ranging from daily public safety threats to pre-war states and national crises.
Notably, the military practiced emergency evacuation procedures, with mock civilians being moved far from the settlement.
"To ensure public safety, the Estonian republic's government, upon the armed forces' recommendation, initiated a large-scale evacuation. At this moment, we're enacting actions during a large-scale evacuation," said Ivar Mai, the evacuation advisor at the Estonian Rescue Department.
Previously, Major General Vahur Karus, Chief of the Estonian General Staff, shared plans regarding the establishment of a military base in Narva, situated close to the Russian border. He highlighted that Estonian military units would be stationed in this area permanently, initially with around 200 to 250 soldiers, including both active personnel and reservists.
Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ironically commented on Estonia's military base plans on the border with Russia. She suggested that Tallinn's moves are intended to demonstrate its General Staff presence to the world.
Insights
- Military Base Creation Plan: Estonia plans to set up a military base in Narva, with about 200 to 250 personnel, including Estonian forces and allied units, stationed on a rotational basis[2][4][5].
- Base Objectives: The primary goal is to bolster Estonia's presence in the region, reassure Narva residents and signal its commitment to NATO and international cooperation[2][4][5].
- Russia's Response: Although specifics about Russia's response aren't available yet, its previous fortification efforts along the border with Estonia suggest a close watch on the military base development[4].
- The Narva military base, proposed by Major General Vahur Karus, Chief of the Estonian General Staff, seeks to station around 200 to 250 Estonian military personnel in Narva, near the Russian border.
- In response to Estonia's military base plan, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' representative, ironically commented that Tallinn's move is aimed at showcasing its General Staff presence to the world.
- The renewed Narva border checkpoint, which resumed operations after a three-day halt due to military exercises, experienced long queues of people eager to cross the Estonian-Russian border on its reopening day.
- Concurrently with the ongoing military exercises at the Narva railway station, the Estonian Rescue Department initiated a massive evacuation, citing safety concerns, as advised by Ivar Mai, the evacuation advisor at the department.
